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Washington, DC

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Public or private transit access

Description: This project will engage volunteers and neighbors in DC Wards 5, 7 and 8 to improve walkability and accessibility. The initiative aims to reduce fall risks and strengthen community connections, especially for older adults.

Lawrence, KS

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public or private transit access

Description: Many of Lawrence's bus stops lacked shelters or seating for waiting riders. As a temporary fix, people left lawn chairs, folding chairs and benches at the bus stops, which locals nicknamed shame benches. The United Way of Douglas County stepped in to install amenities at 15 bus stops, particularly in lower income areas with high ridership. Local youth created art to decorate five existing stops, with students at a local technical school constructing custom-built shelters for another five. Project organizers hope the upgrades make the transit system more accessible to older people, people with disabilities and anyone who can't easily stand on a curb.

St. Louis, MO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Public or private transit access

Description: This project will gather and share stories on how benches near transit positively impact riders and communities, aiming to connect social infrastructure and encourage further investment.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Woodbridge, VA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: To create a vibrant public space at the Woodbridge Senior Center, Keep Prince William Beautiful created a vegetable garden onsite. Organizers worked to repair raised beds -- designed to be accessible for gardeners of all ages and abilities -- and fill them with vegetable plants. Additionally, they installed a seating area at the Center's front entrance. All plants grown in the space are native to Northern Virginia and include pollinator-friendly species. The Center plans to cook with vegetables from the garden and organizers hope the improvements give older adults a beautiful outdoor gathering space.

Fairfax County, VA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Access to health care services

Description: When the COVID-19 pandemic made in-person medical appointments risky, CFH wanted to help local older adults make the most of online sessions with their health providers. To do this, CFH distributed telehealth kits to residents of Herndon Harbor House, a senior housing complex, allowing them to measure their vital signs at home. Each kit contained a digital thermometer and a wrist device that measures blood pressure. To ensure recipients could operate the devices, CFH included written instructions in several languages.

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